Medical information system having desktop home key feature

ABSTRACT

A computer-based medical information system includes a medical database and a user terminal having a display screen. A desktop display is generated on the display screen. The desktop display includes a desktop control panel having a home key. One or more windows containing information relating to respective application programs are generated on the desktop display in response to user inputs. The desktop display is restored to a predefined state in response to user selection of the home key. The desktop display may be restored to a predefined state by maximizing the currently-active window on the display screen and hiding all windows other than the currently-active window.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to computerized medical informationsystems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for controllingmedical information systems which utilize a desktop controller formanaging application programs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Computerized medical information systems are widely used tomonitor, control and record many aspects of patient care in hospitals.The medical information system is designed to provide patientinformation at the patient's bedside and at other locations in ahospital. A key element that determines the effectiveness of a medicalinformation system is the user interface, including the presentation ofinformation on a video display screen and the way in which the userinteracts with such information.

[0003] Current information systems typically utilize a graphical userinterface (GUI) for presentation of patient information. Typicaldisplays may include a menu bar and selected patient information. Arecently-developed user interface employs a clinical “desktop”. Theclinical desktop implements a component architecture which allowsindependently-developed application programs to be integrated and givesthe user a single cohesive display.

[0004] Many modem GUI based applications provide flexible controls thatallow the user to alter use of available display screen space. Anexample is a slider bar which divides a display screen into two areas.The user may slide the slider bar to make one area bigger at the expenseof the other. A common problem arises if a user moves the slider all theway to one side and one of the two areas of the display screencompletely disappears. Often the way to restore the lost area isapplication specific and may not be apparent to the user.

[0005] Most applications allow their windows to be moved, resized orhidden, i.e., represented by an icon. This flexibility can be a problemfor some users. A user may accidentally hide a window and may not knowhow to get it back. A user may move a window off the screen or mayresize the window in a way that is no longer useable.

[0006] Often a user may perform a series of complex application specificinteractions with a particular application program. In some cases, it ispossible that the user may put the application in a state that isunfamiliar to the user. It is desirable to provide a simple, easy to useway for the user to recover from such confusing or unfamiliar states andto restore the display to a familiar state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, a method isprovided for controlling a computer-based medical information systemwhich includes a medical database and a user terminal having a displayscreen. A desktop display is generated on the display screen. Thedesktop display comprises a desktop control panel having a home key. Oneor more windows containing information relating to respectiveapplication programs are generated on the desktop display in response touser inputs. The desktop display is restored to a predefined state inresponse to user selection of the home key.

[0008] The desktop display may be restored to a predefined state byidentifying a currently-active window and maximizing thecurrently-active window on the display screen. Windows other than thecurrently-active window may be hidden. The currently-active window maybe restored to an initial state, while retaining any information enteredby the user.

[0009] Restoring the desktop display to a predefined state includessending a home message to each of the application programs. Eachapplication program executes a predefined home process in response tothe home message. The home process may comprise restoring any windowassociated with the respective application program to an initial state,while retaining any information entered by the user.

[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, a medicalinformation system is provided. The medical information system comprisesa central processor, including a medical database, and at least one userterminal for entering data into the medical database. The medicalinformation system further comprises means for generating a desktopdisplay on the display screen, the desktop display comprising a desktopcontrol panel having a home key, means responsive to user inputs forgenerating on the desktop display one or more windows containinginformation relating to respective application programs and meansresponsive to user selection of the home key for restoring the desktopdisplay to a predefined state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein byreference and in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a medical informationsystem suitable for implementation of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is an example of a desktop display in the medicalinformation system of FIG. 1 prior to selection of the home key;

[0014]FIG. 3 is an example of a desktop display in the medicalinformation system of FIG. 1 after selection of the home key; and

[0015]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process that isexecuted in response to user selection of the home key.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The invention is preferably practiced in a computerized medicalinformation system, or clinical information system. The medicalinformation system is designed to provide patient information at thepatient's bedside and elsewhere in a hospital. An example of a basicmedical information system is shown in FIG. 1. The system uses aclient-server architecture wherein a central server supplies data andcontrols the flow of information to workstations (clients) located ateach patient bedside. The client-server architecture eliminates the needfor database storage at each workstation.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, workstations 10 and 12 are connected througha network hub 14 to redundant central servers 16 and 18. Each of thecentral servers 16 and 18 includes a central processor, memory and diskstorage. The servers 16 and 18 perform centralized functions, such asdatabase services, bedside device interface services, hospital systeminterface services and report services. Each central server typicallyincludes a system manager terminal 20 and a printer 22. Workstations,only two of which are shown in FIG. 1, are typically located at patientbedsides and other locations as required throughout the hospital. Eachworkstation contains user interface programs and all applicationprograms run by the workstation. The system may also be connectedthrough hub 14 to patient monitors at selected patient bedsides. Thepatient monitors supply physiological information to the database. Anexample of a medical information system of the type shown and describedis the HP CareVue 9000 system manufactured and sold by theHewlett-Packard Company.

[0018] By way of example, workstations 10 and 12 can be HP 9000workstations which operate with a diskless processor and include a highresolution graphic display, keyboard and trackball. The workstationstypically include 16-32 megabytes of RAM. The central servers 16 and 18can be implemented as HP 9000 processors coupled to 1.2 gigabytes ofdisk storage and including 24 megabytes of RAM. The system preferablyuses the HP-UX operating system, a robust implementation of the AT&TUnix system V.2. The system also uses the X/Windows graphic userinterface. The database is comprised of an HP-Allbase relationaldatabase and an object oriented database shell. The system database isshadowed, meaning that it is maintained on both central servers 16 and18. Both copies of the database are updated with each transaction. Datais initially stored at the workstation and is moved to the server to bestored in the medical database.

[0019] Examples of clinical desktop displays, as they may appear on thedisplay screens of workstations 10, 12 (FIG. 1), are shown in FIGS. 2and 3. A desktop controller manages application programs (applications)and controls the desktop display. The desktop controller allowsindependently-developed applications to be integrated and gives the usera single cohesive display. Components of the clinical desktop displayinclude a desktop control panel 50 and a window area 52. Desktop controlpanel 50 includes functions for managing one or more applicationprograms. Window area 52 is used for display of one or more windowscontaining information relating to respective applications.

[0020] Desktop control panel 50 may include a title bar 60, a menu bar62 and a tool bar 64. The menu bar includes conventional menu bar keyssuch as a file key, an edit key, a view key, a window key and a helpkey. Selection of a key may generate a menu of functions available tothe user. Tool bar 64 includes icons for selecting various functions.Examples include a save icon, a logoff icon and a print icon. Inaddition, tool bar 64 may include an icon for each application programthat has been opened. A home key 70 permits the user to return thedesktop display to a predefined state, as described in detail below.

[0021] In the example of FIG. 2, window area 52 contains a patientselection window 80, an orders management window 82 and an applicationconfiguration window 84. Each window represents an application that hasbeen opened by the user. Various windows may be partially or entirelyhidden by other windows. According to the conventional Windowsenvironment, the currently-active window is on top (not hidden). Allwindows, including hidden windows, are considered to be active untilthey are closed.

[0022] The desktop display of FIG. 2 is shown as an example of a displaywhich may be confusing, unfamiliar or otherwise unacceptable to theuser. For example, the user may not know how to exit from this state.According to a feature of the invention, the home key 70 permits theuser to return the desktop display to a predefined state. In order toinitiate the home key function, the user selects home key 70 with amouse or other pointing device. In response to selection of the home key70, the system automatically restores the display to a predefined state.In one embodiment, the system maximizes the currently-active window onthe display screen and hides all other active windows. Thus, withreference to FIG. 3, following selection of home key 70, patientselection window 80 is maximized to fill window area 52, and windows 82and 84 are hidden. The user can then proceed with further operations. Inthe embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the predefined state presented uponselection of the home key is the maximized, currently-active window.Each window, including the currently-active window and any hiddenwindows, may be restored to an initial state, such as the state when theapplication is opened, but information that may have been entered by theuser is retained. It will be understood that different predefined statesmay be utilized in different applications and in different situations.

[0023] The home key feature is a useability enhancement feature. Thehome key 70 that appears in tool bar 64 may be implemented as an iconincluding the image of a house. The purpose of the home key is to returnthe user's desktop display and applications managed by the desktopcontroller to a predefined state that is familiar to the user. Thisfeature may be valuable to novice users, who may find themselves in astate where they do not know what to do next. Selecting the home key 70on the desktop tool bar restores the desktop to a familiar andpredefined state.

[0024] Clinical applications are often quite complex. Most cliniciansuse several clinical applications on their desktop at the same time.This makes the situation even more complex and increases the possibilityof the user becoming disoriented. No matter how disoriented or confusedthe user may become, the selection of the home key provides a way torestore the desktop display to a familiar and predefined state.

[0025] The home key feature relies on the component architecture of thedesktop. Specifically, it relies on the fact that all applicationsmanaged by the desktop controller implement a specific interface inorder to be compliant with the architecture. The interface defines aprocess called “home”. Each application implements the home process torestore its GUI to a predefined, application-specific and user-friendlyvisual and internal state. The desktop home key is configured to callthe home process on each application managed by the desktop.

[0026] The architecture does not prescribe the exact response that is tobe implemented by each application when the home process is called.Instead, the architecture prescribes general guidelines to the effectthat each application should restore its visual and internal state to apredefined, application-specific and familiar default state.

[0027] An example of the operations that may be performed in response touser selection of the home key is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4. Instep 110, the user presses the home key 70. In step 112, the desktopcontroller identifies and remembers the currently-active applicationcomponent. In step 114, the desktop controller hides all windows.

[0028] In step 116, a determination is made as to whether there are any“torn off” windows. The desktop controller may provide the ability totear off an application component from its parent and make it appear ina newly-created and separate window. When the user is finished with theneed to view the application in a separate window, the applicationcomponent can be merged back into its parent window. If there are tornoff windows, the desktop controller merges all torn off windows into therespective parent windows in step 118.

[0029] Following step 116 or 120, the desktop controller sends the homemessage to each managed application component in step 120. In step 122,each application component performs its home process. As noted above,the home process may vary from application to application. In general,the home process restores any windows associated with the application toa predefined state that is likely to be recognized by the user. Forexample, the predefined state may be the initial state of the windowwhen the application is opened, with any information entered by the userbeing retained. Examples of home process operations include, but are notlimited to, resetting any dialog boxes that have been opened, restoringany sliding or hidden windows to their normal positions, discardingvisual changes made by the user, and retaining information entered bythe user.

[0030] In step 124, the desktop controller maximizes and shows thewindow for the currently-active component, thus restoring the user'sdesktop to a familiar and predefined home state.

[0031] The home key feature provides a single consistent control toenable independently-developed and third party-developed applications tobe more user-friendly. The home key feature requires very littleadditional functionality from participating applications.

[0032] Having now described a few embodiments of the invention, itshould be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing ismerely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way ofexample only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are withinthe scope of one of ordinary skill in the art and are contemplated asfalling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a computer-based medicalinformation system including a medical database and a user terminalhaving a display screen, comprising the steps of: generating a desktopdisplay on the display screen, said desktop display comprising a desktopcontrol panel having a home key; in response to user inputs, generatingon said desktop display one or more windows containing informationrelating to respective application programs; and in response to userselection of the home key, restoring the desktop display to a predefinedstate.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of restoringthe desktop display to a predefined state comprises identifying acurrently-active window and maximizing the currently-active window onthe display screen.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the stepof restoring the desktop display to a predefined state comprisesidentifying a currently-active window, maximizing the currently-activewindow on the display screen and hiding all windows other than thecurrently-active window.
 4. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein thestep of restoring the desktop display to a predefined state furthercomprises restoring the currently-active window to an initial state,while retaining any information entered by the user.
 5. A method asdefined in claim 1 wherein the step of restoring the desktop display toa predefined state comprises sending a home message to each of saidapplication programs, wherein each of said application programs executesa predefined home process in response to the home message.
 6. A methodas defined in claim 5 wherein the step of executing a home processcomprises restoring any window associated with the respectiveapplication program to an initial state, while retaining any informationentered by the user.
 7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the stepof restoring the desktop display to a predefined state comprises mergingwindows torn off from others of said windows into respective parentwindows.
 8. A medical information system comprising: a centralprocessor, including a medical database, and at least one user terminalfor entering data into said medical database, said user terminalincluding a display screen; means for generating a desktop display onthe display screen, said desktop display comprising a desktop controlpanel having a home key; means responsive to user inputs for generatingon said desktop display one or more windows containing informationrelating to respective application programs; and means responsive touser selection of the home key for restoring the desktop display to apredefined state.
 9. A medical information system as defined in claim 8wherein said means for restoring the desktop display to a predefinedstate comprises means for identifying a currently-active window andmeans for maximizing the currently-active window on the display screen.10. A medical information system as defined in claim 9 wherein saidmeans for restoring the desktop display to a predefined state furthercomprises means for hiding all windows other than the currently-activewindow.
 11. A medical information system as defined in claim 9 whereinsaid means for restoring the desktop display to a predefined statefurther comprises restoring the currently-active window to an initialstate, while retaining any information entered by the user.
 12. Amedical information system as defined in claim 8 wherein said means forrestoring the desktop display to a predefined state comprises means forsending a home message to each of said application programs, whereineach of said application programs comprises means for executing apredefined home process in response to the home message.
 13. A medicalinformation system as defined in claim 12 wherein said means forexecuting a predefined home process comprises means for restoring anywindow associated with the respective application program to an initialstate, while retaining any information entered by the user.
 14. Amedical information system as defined in claim 8 wherein said means forrestoring the desktop display to a predefined state comprises means formerging windows torn off from others of said windows into respectiveparent windows.